Gameboard stand



Feb. 17,1953 w, F, 'MGNAMARA 2,628,839

' GAME BOARD STAND Filed Nov. 25, 1947 3 Sheets-Sheet l Feh.-17,l 1953 w. F. MGNAMARA GAME BOARD STAND s sheets-sheet 2 Filed Nov. 25, 1947 Feb, 17, 1953 w. F. NIONAIVMRAA 2,628,839

GAME BOARD STANDA 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Nov. 25, 1947 Patented Feb. 17, 1953 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE GAMEBOARD STAND Walter F. McNamara, Chicago, Ill.

Application November 25, 1947, Serial No. 787,950

I (o1. 27s- 139) 3 Claims.

The present invention relates to a game device and more-particularly to an improved stand for gameboards of the punchboard type.

Heretofore stands have been .constructed with a trap adjacent the base of the stand for retaining counters punched from the board by a player until the score could be computed, and such boards may have a transparent window in front of the trap s'o that the counters can be observed without removing them from the stand. The counters used in these boards ordinarily are balls which have distinguishing characteristics such as dierent colors, so that different values can be assigned to the same for computing a score.y

However, since these balls are relatively small, being on the order of the size of a BB shot, it is often diiicult to observe the distinguishing characteristics of the balls in conventionally constructed stands. Another disadvantage of the gameboard stands heretofore constructed arises from the fact that it is diliicult to guard against fraudulent or deceptive operation of the same unless they are given constant attention. Furthermore they may often be fraudulently manipulated by unscrupulous players for the purpose of inserting scoring counters in the trap.

Accordingly a primary object of the invention is the provision of a new and improved pun-chboard stand which includes means for facilitating the observation of counters which have been played including a source of articial light within the stand so that the stand also forms an attractive display when not in use, which is more likely to arouse the interest of prospective players than conventional gameboard stands.

Another primary object of the invention is the provision of a new and improved punchboard stand which cannot be .manipulated so as to f-raudulently display scoring counters, thus dispensing with the need Vfor constant attention to the stand.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a new and improved punchboard stand having a trap for temporarily retaining punched counters in a position for observation which can be operated to clear the stand for a new play only by authorized persons having a key for operating the trap to release the counters.

A still further object of the invention is the provision of a Ynew and improved punchboard stand which has` a source of artificial illumination for facilitatingobservation of the punched counters and for enhancing the appearance of the stand which Iis self contained so that the stand may be set up at any location and may readily v,be moved'from one place to another..

Yet another object of the invention is the provision of a punchboard stand having an improved frame that may readily be opened for the purpose of inserting or removing punchboards or for the purpose of adjustment or repair of the stand, and which may be locked in assembled position so that it can be opened only by authorized persons.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a new and improved gameboard stand which is simple and inexpensive to construct and assemble but which nevertheless is foolproof, dur' able and of attractive appearance.

These and other objects, advantages and capabilities of the invention will become apparent from the following description, wherein reference is had to the accompanying drawings, in which:-

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the front side of the improved gameboard stand of the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a horizontal sectional view taken on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1; Y

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the rear side of the improved gameboard stand of the present invention with parts broken away more clearly to disclose the structure;

Fig. 4 is a bottom plan View on an enlarged tscale of a trap door forming part of the invenion;

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary front elevational view of the lower portion of the improved gameboard stand of the present `invention with the front frame member removed; and

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary vertical sectional View showing the manner in which the lower ends of the front and rear frame members are interlocked. Y

Referring to Figs. 1 to 3, it will be seen that the improved gameboard stand of the present invention has a framework consisting of a rear frame member l0 upon which the other parts of the stand are supported, and a front frame member I2. These frame members are each preferably integrally formed as by casting the same from a lightweight metal such as an aluminum alloy. The cast rear frame includes a bottom Wall I4, a pair of vertically extending laterally disposed box# like housings IB integrally formed therewith, and vertically extending uprights I8 which are connected at their upper end by an integral cross# piece 20. The inwardly facing sides of the housings IB are open and the housings have inner side walls 22 best seen in Fig. 3 which terminate short of the bottom wall I4.

An upstanding flange 24 is formed on the inwardly facing sides of the uprights I8 and the y crosspiece zintermediatetheir edges. as indiv cated in Fig. 2, and a back panel 25 which rests upon the portion of the uprights I8 and crosspiece 2l) disposed inwardly of the flange Zi, closes the open back of the frame between the inner edges of these members. This back panel extends downwardly to a point adjacent the lower edge of the inner side walls 22 of the housings IS so that it covers most of the open inner side of these housings. At leas-t the lower portion of this panel extending between the side walls 22 should be transparent for a purpose which will appear hereinafter, and, therefore, the panel is preferably formed from a glass plate or a transparent plastic plate.

As best seen in Figs. 1 and 2, the front frame member I2 has an open area 28 defined by a pair of vertical uprights 30 integrally formed with an upper horizontal cross piece 32 and a base piece 34 that projects outwardly somewhat from the plane of the uprights and crosspiece. AV rearwardly extending flange 36 completely encompasses the periphery of the front frame member l2 and is of suitable dimensions so that it overlaps the peripheral edges of the rear frame i6, completely enclosing the same when the two frame members are secured together, thereby preventing fraudulent access to the interior of the stand along the joining edges of the two frame members.

These two frame members are preferably interconnected in such a manner that they may be readily disengaged by authorized persons, and one means for securing them together in this manner will, now be described. Adjacent each lower corner, the back side of the front frame member is provided with an integral depending lug, one of which is shown at 33 in Fig. 6, and a pair of upstanding lugs 46 is provided on the bottom of the back frame member adjacent the inner edge thereof. The opposi-tely disposed edges of these lugs are complementarily inclined so that the lugs 38 on the front frame member maybe engaged behind the lugs 40 on the back frame member or disengaged therefrom when the front frame member is held at an angle to the back frame member and moved longitudinally with respect thereto.

Thus the two frame members may be readily engaged or disengaged with each other and furthermore a connection is provided between the two which allows for limited pivotal movement therebetween. The two frame members are locked in engaged position by means of a lock d2 carried in the crosspiece 20 of the back frame member having a latch which engages behind a lug suitably located on the back side of the front frame member. This lock may be of the conventional cylinder type and the key for operating the same will be kept by the person authorized to have access to the stand.

In use, the stand will normally be supportedl in a somewhat inclined position, as shown in Fig. 1. For this purpose a generally U-shaped easel support d4 is provided, as best seen in Figs. 2 and 3. This support may be formed from a single rod or a lentgh of heavy wire and has vertically extending portions which have a return bend adjacent their upper ends. The tips of these downwardly bent ends are bent laterally and are pivotally received in apertures provided in lugs d6 on the back side of the back frame member. 'Ihis construction permits the easel support, which is slightly resilient, to be pivoted until it lies iiat against the back of the back frame member so that the stand occupies little space in storage or shipment.

A gameboard 48 of the punchboard type is suppor-ted in the stand as best seen in Figs. 1 and 2 between the two frame members i0 and l2 and has its peripheral edges tightly gripped between the inner edges of the front frame member deiining the open area 28 and the upstanding ange 24 on the back frame member. As a result, access to the stand cannot be had along these edges when the two frame members are locked together, and the back side of the punchboard is spaced from the back panel 26 by the height of flange 24 while the playing eld of the board is exposed in the open area 28. The board is properly located relative to the opening 28 by means of a series of lugs on the back side of the front frame member adjacent the inner edges of the uprights and the edges of the crosspiece and base. Two of these lugs are indicated at 56 in Fig. 2 and, as will be obvious, they prevent lateral or vertical shifting of the board.

The gameboard 68 may be of more or less conventional construction and may include, for example, an inner lamination or panel 62 having a series of apertures 5d therein, each adapted loosely to receive a counter 56 which preferably is in the form of a ball. The balls are normally retained in the intermediate panel by means of frangible sheets 53. One of these sheets is disposed on each side of the intermediate panel 52 between a front lamination or panel 60 on the one side of the intermediate panel, and a back lamination or panel 62 on the other side of the intermediate panel. These three laminations are suitably secured together as by an adhesive and the back panel G2 is provided with a series of apertures 6d registering with the apertures 54 in the intermediate panel and of the same diameter. The front panel has a series of apertures 66 registering with the apertures 5i; in the intermediate panel.

In using the game, a punch or key is inserted in any one ofthe apertures 66 in the front panel 60 which a player may desire to select, and the ball behind this aperture is pushed from its cell in the intermediate panel out of the back of the board so that it will drop against the back panel 26 in the frame and be guided to the lower part of the stand. The aperture 66 in the front panel should be of smaller size than the diameter of the balls so that a ball cannot be pushed through the board from its front side. The balls 56 are of various colors or are otherwise provided with distinguishing characteristics so that different values may be assigned to the different colored balls, and the frangible backing sheets 58 are preferably opaque to prevent detection by a player of the characteristics of a ball before he has punched the same from the board. The front side of the board also may be provided with a cover sheet containing instructions, and suitably decorated to attract attention to the stand.

One of the features of the present invention is the improved means which I have devised for intercepting the counters punched from the gameboard and the trap for temporarily retaining them at a position where they may be observed along with the means which I have devised for making them more readily visible and for simplifying counting thereof, which means will now be described.

In Fig. 5 a transversely extending bottom pan-y el 68 is shown supported at opposite ends upon ledges l0 projecting inwardly from the side walls of the boxlike housings I6 forming part of the back frame member at an elevation to bring the bottom panel into engagement with the lower edges of the inner side walls 22 of the housingsso that the panel forms the bottom wall of these housings. Preferably the back edge of this panel engages under an inwardly projecting lip 12 on the back wall of the back frame member between the side walls of the housings, and it is supported intermediate its ends upon brackets 14 extending inwardly from the back wall of the back frame member.

' The lower end of the back panel 26 previously mentioned rests upon this bottom panel 68 and a transparent panel 16 of glass or plastic is positioned forwardly of the back panel, as shown in Fig. 2. 'This transparent panel is secured at opposite ends in the recessed edges of a pair of vertical members 18 (Figs. 2 and 5), which deltermine the spacing between the back panel 26 and the transparent panel 16. This spacing should approximate the space at which the back taining them, are disposed in the space between the back and transparent panels 26 and 16. In the present embodiment of the invention. these members are formed from right and left plastic strips 80 and 82 respectively of a width equal to the space between panels 26 and 16 which are cemented to the back side of the transparent panel 16. The upper ends of these strips incline downwardly in converging relation from the opposite upper lateral edges of the transparent panel toward its center and are thus in a position to intercept counters dropping along the back panel. From this intermediate point the strips extend in parallel zigzag relation to the lower edge of the panel to form a tortuous passageway or trap 84 which is disposed in front of the transparent portion of the back panel 26 when the parts are in assembled relation, as shown in Fig. 5, and which has an inlet 86 at its upper end and an outlet 88 in a lower plane.

Balls punched from the board 48 are guided downwardly by the back panel 26 and are intercepted by one or the other of the converging portions of the trap forming members from which they gravitate to the inlet 86 and thence do-wn the tortuous passageway 84 toward the outlet 88. This outlet communicates with an aperture 90 in the bottom panel 68 through which the balls may drop into an open topped boxlike receptacle 92 when the aperture is uncovered. The receptacle is positioned in the back frame member I0 between the brackets 14 so that it can be removed only when the front frame member is removed from the back.

In order to. prevent unauthorized release ofy the balls from the trap, for example before they have been counted and paid for, a trap door 94 is provided on the underside of the bottom panel for closing aperture 90, as seen in bottom plan in Fig. 4. This door is slidably supported upon a pair of slides 96 fixed as by rivets to the opposite edges of the aperture 90, and it is moved between open and closed positions by means of a link 96 pivoted at one end to the door and at the i play and another wishes to commence, the per- Y the bottom panel 68.

son authorized to operate the stand merely opeates the lock |02 in an unlocking direction. This moves the door 94 to the right, as seen in Fig. 4, so that the aperture is uncovered and the balls in the trap drop into the receptacle 92. Thereafter the lock is operated to closed position, thus closing the aperture 90 and locking it in closed position. Since this receptacle may be of relatively large Asize normally, it will hold all of the balls from a gameboardso that ordinarily it will be necessary to open the stand only` when a board is to be replaced, and at that time the receptacle may be emptied.

Certain other features have been incorporated in my improved stand further to improve the visibility of the counters in the trap and to simplify thecounting thereof. Referring to Fig. 5, it will be seen that a small lamp |04 of iiashlight size is disposed on each side of the trap 84 above bottom panel 68 in such a position that they are enclosed behind the base piece 34 of the front frame member when the stand is assembled. These lamps are supported by rigid conductors |06 and |08 secured to insulator blocks ||0 carried on the front side of the transparent panel 16 adjacent its lateral edges. The conductors engage iixed contacts ||2 in the bottom panel 68 which are electrically connected by Wiring to two dry cell batteries H4, one of which is supported in each of the housings I6 von the back frame by A manual switch ||6 is suitably secured in one of the side walls of the back frame member for controlling energization of the lights |04. It will of course be apparent that lights adapted for energization from a regular line could be used in place of the lights described and in that case the batteries could be dispensed with and a cord provided for plugging into an outlet socket.

For further increasing the ease of counting the balls in the trap 84, a magnifying lens ||8 is carried in a rectangular opening in the base of the front frame member as shown in Figs. 1 and 2 at a position directly in front of the trap when the stand is assembled for use. It will also be noted in Fig. 5 that graduations indicated at |20 are provided along the trap for marking ofl" the space occupied by a denite number of counters, such for example as five counters, so that the total number of counters played can be readily determined without counting each separately.

From the above description of a preferred embodiment of the invention, it will be apparent thatI have provided a gameboard stand that is self contained and so constructed that it cannot be tampered with or unauthorized access had to the interior thereof for the purpose of inserting scoring counters without that fact becoming obvious to the operator of the stand. Thus his constant attention to the stand is not required.

. Furthermore, the construction of the trap and the illumination thereof make it easy for the player and the operator to determine the number of Vcounters played and'to identify them as to c olor `or other distinguishing characteristics, and this may be done from the back of the stand as well as the front, although it can be done more readily from the front. In addition to this, the stand forms an attractive display, particularly when the trap is lighted, so that it is more likely to arouse the interest of prospective players than conventional stands of this type. Another advantage of the construction described arises from the fact that the gameboards may be readily replaced, when they have been completely played, by new boards of the same or diiferent type, and the various subassemblies, such as the front panel and trap, may be easily removed for repair if that should become necessary.

While I have shown and described a preferred embodiment of my invention, it will be apparent that numerous variations and modifications thereof may be made without departing from the underlying principles of the invention. I, therefore, desirey by the following claims, to include within the scope of the invention all such variations and modifica-tions by which substantially the results of my invention may be obtained through the use of substantially the same or equivalent means.

I claim:

1. A gameboard stand adapted removably to receive and support a disposable type punchboard carrying counters adapted to be punched rearwardly from the punchboard, comprising in com` bination front and rear slightly rearwardly inclined stand parts, said rear part including an upstanding open rectangular frame having a forwardly projecting ange along the upright and top horizontal portions thereof and located outwardly of the inner edge of said frame, a horizontal partition extending transversely across said rear part at the lower edge of said opening and projecting both forwardly and rearwardly of said frame opening, a panel supported on said partition and closing said frame opening, said panel lying against the inner face of said frame portions and beine,T located by said forwardly pro jecting ange, wall means defining a compartment below said partition, a second panel substantially shorter than said first named panel and having a transparent portion intermediate its ends upstanding from said partition, means positioning said second panel forwardly of said first panel to provide a space therebetween to receive counters punched from the punchboard, an opening in said partition positioned 'between said rst and second panels through which the punched out counters may fall into said compartment, a movable trap door closing said opening, and means operable from the rear of the stand for manipulating said trap door, said front stand part including a frame having an inwardly directed front opening defining flange, the inner edge of which is positioned to the inside of said rear frame flange and having a rearwardly disposed uange along the outer edges thereof adapted to enclose the outer peripheral edge of said rear frame, a plurality of punchboard supporting and positioning lugs projecting rearwardly from the inner face of said front frame, and a viewing opening in said front stand part coinciding with said transparent portion of said second panel when said stand parts are assembled so that counters punched from the punchboard may be seen before being dropped through said partition opening, and means securing said front and rear stand parts together so that the punchboard positioned by said rearwardly projecting lugs is clamped between said forwardly projecting rear frame ange and said inwardly disposed front frame ange.

2. A gameboard stand adapted removably to receive and support a disposable type punchboard carrying counters adapted to be punched rearwardly from the punchboard, comprising in combination front and rear slightly rearwardly inclined stand parts, said rear part including an upstanding open rectangular frame having a forwardly projecting flange along the upright and top horizontal portions thereof and located inwardly from the inner edge of said frame, a horizontal partition extending transversely across said rear part at the lower edge of said opening and projecting both forwardly `and rearwardly of said frame opening, a panel supported by said .partition and the inner fa-ce of said frame closing said frame opening, wall means dening a compartment below said partition, a second panel substantially shorter than said first panel and having a transparent portion intermediate its ends upstanding from said partition, a pair of blocks carried at the inner face of said frame positioning said second panel forwardly of said first panel, means forming a counter receiving trap having an outlet and an inlet above said outletiand positioned between said panels, an opening in said partition at the outlet from said trap, a movable trap door closing said opening, and means including a lock accessible only from the exterior of the gameboard stand for manipulating said trap door, said front stand part including a frame having an inwardly directed front opening defining flange, the inner edge of which is positioned to the inside of said rear frame flange, said front stand part being shaped to enclose the outer peripheral edge of said rear frame, a plurality of `punchboard supporting and positioning lugs projecting rearwardly from the inner face of said front frame part, and a viewing opening through which said trap may be seen through said transparent portion of said second panel` and means securing said front and rear stand parts together so that the punchboard positioned by said rearwardly projecting lugs is clamped between said forwardly projecting rear frame flanges and said inwardly disposed front frame ange.

3, A gameboard stand adapted removably to receive and support a disposable type punchboard carrying counters adapted to be punched rearwardly from the punchboard, comprising in combination front and rear slightly rearwardly inclined stand parts, said rear part including an upstanding open rectangular frame having a forwardly projecting iiange along the upright and top horizontal portions thereof and located inwardly from the inner edge of said frame, a horizontal partition extending transversely across said rear part at the lower edge of said opening and projecting both forwardly and rearwardly of said frame opening, a panel supported by said partition and the inner face of said frame closing said frame opening, wall means defining a forwardly opening compartment below said partition, a second panel substantially shorter than said rst panel and having a transparent portion intermediate its ends upstanding from said partition, means positioning said second panel forwardly of said first panel, means forming a counter receiving trap having an outlet and an inlet above said outlet and positioned between said panels, an opening in said partition at the outlet from said trap, a movable trap door closing v 9 said opening, means including a lock positioned on said rearwardly projecting partition portion for manipulating said trap door, and a removable tray in said compartment below said opening, said front stand part including a frame having an inwardly directed front opening dening iiange, the inner edge of which is positioned to the inside of said rea-r frame said front stand part having portions enclosing the outer peripheral edge of said rear frame and closing said compartment, a plurality of punchboard supporting and positioning lugs projecting rearwardly from the inner face of said front frame part, and a Viewing opening in said front stand part coinciding with said transparent portion of said second panel when said stand parts are assembled through which said trap may be seen, and means securing said front and rear stand parts together so that the punehboard positioned by said rearwardly projecting lugs is clamped between said forwardly projecting rear frame anges and said inwardly disposed front frame flange.

WALTER F. MCNAMARA.

1 0 REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le of this patent:

Number Number UNITED STATES PATENTS Name Date Beerbaum Nov. 8, 1921 Foley et al Dec. 9, 1924 Lewis Oct. 1l, 1927 Awalt Dec. 19, 1933 Frey Feb. 13, 1934 Mabey Sept. 15, 1936 Hubbard et al. Dec. 6, 1938 Andrus June 22, 1943 FOREIGN PATENTS y Country Date Germany Mar. 24, 1933 

